Wichita eagle., 1887-06-24
TALK OF TWO CITIZENS.

A couple OF gentlemen were heard talking
yesterday concerning the operation of
thieves in the city. One was councilman
and the other prominent business man who
has lately had some very unsatisfactory
dealing with gang Of thieves.
81 am certain" said the councilman, ''that
| in this city their lives and exists an organ
lied band of horse thieves. They were or
gained near year ago, and if you will OBJ
serve their work they periodically get in
their work. About every ten days two or
four horses are stolen from this city. As a
| rule they make way with them, too, which
is one very disagreeable feature That shows
that the gang is well organized and al
most invincible. They must deviate
from the old routes formerly used
in making way with horses, as the detectives
and officers stationed there fail to catch very
many. OF course it amt very difficult
task to steal a horse, but arrangements
ought to be made by which they can be
caught and put at some other work.
sit is not hard job to pick out to moral
certainty the men, or some, at least, who are
in the gang. know of some characters in
this city who for months have done nothing
toward maintaining respectable existence.
They loaf around and take in the situation
Pick out the fine horses and find where they
can be secured with little risk I notice
their absence occasionally, which may con-
tinue for two or three weeks. Just long
enough to make way with property and sell
it. Think the city ought to provide some
means OF catching the gang or at least drive
them from the city,
''Our police force and county authorities
are good and are doing as good work as pos
sibIe, but they are by no means equal to the
task. AS a result, the natural con-
clusion is that some power, either county or
city, ought to give an increased force to pro-
tect the people. l think a few. good detec-
tives would be a frst-class investment They
would soon get onto the information known
by any observing citizen and make good use
of it. Something must be done, and the
demand proves more imperative every
day."
The other gentleman then stated that he
knew of some characters who labored not,
and had not since they struck the town.
They would take periodical trips, and every
thing indicated that they belonged to the
gang of horse thieves. He also added that
while they were in the city he be-
lieved they figured in the house breaking
and that kind of work when they
have done up several residences they go off
on horse for five days recreation. The
breaking up of the gang of horse thieves will
be effective work in giving our people assur-
ance that when they go to sleep at night they
will find their effects at home on tie morn
robbed. Either held up or house entered,
and some nights several instances are recor-
ded. The public don't know of half Of such
work that is done, and we are now talking
about. the part that finds its way to the pub
lie through the press But few men open
their head when they have been done up"
"Weii, what is to be donen was the CUES
ton asked
THAT is the question sure enough. What
is to be done!" Of course it must be stop
peu. ho" W sup IL - tuo qucS-
ton again. The only way
l know is to get some detectives as you sug-
gested and let them run them down. That's
the only remedy. 1t won't do any good to
preach to them. 1t won t do any good to
tell them they ought not act in that way.
No one l presume will plead to resort to
that but I fail to see why anyone would OBJ
ject to having them captured by detectives
as they can do it and the work can be done
that way probably with less cost to the city
than by any other means"